Folding shelf for bed clothes



Oct. 27, 1964 w. M. EMERY 3,153,795

FOLDING SHELF FOR BED CLOTHES Filed July 29, 1963 FIG. 2

43 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,153,795 FOLDING SHELF FOR BED CLOTHESWilliam M. Emery, New Providence, N.J., assignor to Better Sleep Mfg.Co., Berkeley Heights, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 29,1963, Ser. No. 298,276 3 Ciairns. (Cl. -319) My present invention refersto a folding shelf for bed clothes which is conveniently placed tosupport excess covers, blankets, bed spreads, etc. above the foot of thebed within easy reach of the sleeper. Just by sitting up in bed yourfingertips will reach the extra blanket needed in the early morninghours whereas many other shelves, etc. necessitate getting out of bed tosecure extra covering. Also the shelf may be placed between the sheetsto free the feet of the weight of all coverings or between the top sheetand the blankets in which case sheet contact is retained which someprefer while eliminating the burden of the heavier covers on the feet.My shelf is composed of sections mounted on support arms which can becollapsed flat from their elevated vertical position by crossing them.When this is done the shelf wings pivot on the overhanging portion ofthe support arms so that they flatten invisibly and unobtrusively underthe covers against the mattress top when the bed is made.

Reference is made to my Patent #2,710,4l4.

Objects of my present invention are to provide certain new improvementsas the result of considerable inventive thought over the years that onlycurrently has brought fruit although I have recognized the need forconsiderable time, and have searched for a practical solution that wouldnot sacrifice certain essential original features. So objects includereducing the tendency of the elevated covers to sag between the arms byproviding extended shelf-like elements pivotally mounted on the arms toturn on horizontal axes. This increases the spread of the shelf, reducessag and allows the arms and the shelves to flatten against the top ofthe mattress when the bed is made. Another object is to provide a thinpivotal protection for the forward pointing ends of the support arms sothat if the ends are kicked accidentally by a tender foot, the arm endcannot injure the skin or bruise the foot, and more particularly, to dothis without interfering with the arm folding invisibly flat when thebed is made. Another object is to provide a basev with greater stabilitywith a minimum amount of weight increase. The successful accomplishmentof these and other objects will be obvious from the specification andclaims hereafter and from the drawings in which-- FIGURE 1 is anorthographic projection showing my folding sectional shelf in a coverssupporting position at the end of a conventional footless bed.

FIG. 2 is an elevation viewed from the foot end of the bed of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view from 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an elevation viewed like FIG. 2 but the arms and the shelfsections lowered fiat to mattress top,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom View of FIGS. 2 or 3, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing one of the pivotal shelves and itsmounting.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional bed frame and springs 19 with a conventionalmattress 2i) thereon covered conventionally with a bed sheet or sheets.The convenient location of the extra bed covers when elevated over thefoot of the bed is indicated in broken lines.

Shown in several views are two 0 shaped support arms 21 and 22comprising an end 24, an upper overhanging horizontal section 23, acurved section 25, a substantially normally upright section 26, anofiset sec- 3,153,795 Patented Oct. 27, 1964 tion 27 and a lowerhorizontal section 28 which has therein a shoulder 29.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show a sheet metal base 30 which has less width thanthe bed and is held by the weight and stiffness of the mattress betweenthe mattress 20 and the bed frame 19 or box spring or other equivalent.The bend 31 of base 30 has two end holes which mount two stop rivets 32and two other holes 33 that pivot horizontal section 23 of arms 21 and22. Base 30 also has offset ears 34 that pivot the ends of sections 28so that support arms 21 and 22 are pivoted in a common horizontal planefor movement about substantially horizontal and parallel axes by holes33 and ears 34 in base 30. To provide, without tools, quick attachmentand detachment of the arms 22 and 23 to and from the base 30 bent springedge 35, a continuation of bend 31, snaps in behind shoulder 29 to holdsections 28 of arms of 21 and 22 from coming out of base 30. Base 30 isextended beyond the ends of sections 23 at 36 to provide extra stabilityand the extended edge is bent downward at 37 to discourage sliding ofthe base.

Identical reversible shelves 40 are pivotaliy mounted to turn on theupper overhanging horizontal sections 23 of arms 21 and 22. As shown inFIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6 these shelves consist of normally horizontal fins 41extending laterally from a tubular center 42 into which upper sections23 of arms 21 and 22 are loosely inserted. The curve of section 25 stopsthe shelves 40 from sliding too far horizontally on to the radius 25 andelastic rubber band or plastic sleeve or retaining ring 43 prevents theshelf from moving in the oppoiste direction off the end 24 of section23. The shelves are indented at 44 to avoid rotary interference withcurve 24 when it pivots and is 'kewise indented at 45 so that theshelves extend beyond the end or point 2 of upper arm section 23 so asto prevent injury to the foot of the sleeper if the foot accidentallystrikes or kicks the end which has been a medical criticism of myoriginal invention. The indenting of both ends at 44 and 45 also allowsof shelves of maximum length allowable without increasing the overalldimension.

Comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 shows that the relative pivotal movement ofshelves 40 turning on upper sections 23 of arms 21 and 22 to be aboutfrom their raised position in order to lay unobtrusively and invisiblyflatagainst the top of the mattress under the covers when the arms 21and 22 are lowered by crossing them when the bed is made as shown inFIG. 4.

Essential and unique features of my invention include the pivotalrelationship between the shelves and their support rods which allow said90 or more of movement there between. Thus flat thin sectional shelvesare provided, and protection for the feet against injurious contact withthe support rod ends 24 is secured by, a single means without bulbousends or fixed attachments which would interfere, because of said 90movement with the folded arms, with the shelves lying fiat against themattress top which is most essential for consumer acceptance.

In use, assuming that the bed has been made with arms 21 and 22 crossedand the shelf sections flat against the mattress top, first the bedspread is folded back on the foot of the bed in quarters and then theother covers are folded individually back in thirds so their top edge istowards the head of the bed. With the covers thus folded and positionedit is easy to reach down to the foot of the bed and uncross the arms 21and 22 spreading them to their more vertical position thus raising theshelf segments 40 which simultaneously lifts the covers in place withoutmaterially disturbing them. They are now within easy reach of thesleeper and his bed seems larger because it is not hampered by foldedcovers resting on and adjacent to his feet.

a a t 3 Accordingly, I claim:

1. A folding shelf for bed clothes comprising a base of lesser widththan a standard mattress and suitable for positioning under the foot ofa mattress, two shaped arms pivotally mounted with substantiallyparallel andhorizontal axes substantially withinthe plane of said base,and protruding from a common edge thereof, other portions of said 0 armsextending upward and around the end of said mattress terminating inoverhanging ends generally substantially parallel to said axes, andshelf sections individually mounted to pivot and being freely balancedon said overhanging ends in a manner avoiding unstability or unstableequilibrium, said pivotal mounting of the C arms in said base andpivotal mounting of said shelves on said arms being such that saidshelves may be lowered fiat against said mattress top when the bed ismade.

2. A folding shelf for bed clothes comprising a base of lesser widththana standard mattress and suitable for positioning under the foot of amattress, two C shaped arms pivotally mounted with substantiallyparallel and horizontal axes substantially within the plane of saidbase, and protruding from a common edge thereof, other portions ofsaid-Germs extending upward and around the end of said mattressterminating in overhanging sections generally substantially parallel tosaid axes, and individual shelf wings pivotally mounted on each sectionwith said sections as axes, said shelf wings including fins extendinglaterally from said axes, said shelf fins being indented on one sideadjacent to said axes by suitable curving to allow pivotal movement freeof interference with said curved portion on one end of said shelf finsand other indentation on the opposite side of said fins adjacent to saidaxis with projection therefrom to guard said end from injurious contactby a user. 7

,3. A folding shelf for bed clothes comprising a base of lesser Widththan a standard mattress and suitable for positioning under the foot ofa mattress, two 0 shaped arms pivotally mounted with substantiallyparallel and horizontal axes substantially within the plane of saidbase, and protruding from a common edge thereof, other portions of said0 arms extending upward and around the end of said mattress terminatingin overhanging sections substantially parallel to said axes, individualshelf wings pivotally mounted on each of said sections with saidsections as axes, said shelf wings including fins extending laterallyfrom said axes, said fins extending beyond said end to guard said endfrom injurious contact with user and said arms being adapted to raisesaid sections above the foot of a bed also operative to lower sm'd finsflat against said bed when the bed is made.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS689,758 Shaw Dec. 24, 1901 2,674,750 Moore Apr. 13, 1954 2,710,414 EmeryJune 14, 1955

1. A FOLDING SHELF FOR BED CLOTHES COMPRISING A BASE OF LESSER WIDTH THAN A STANDARD MATTRESS AND SUITABLE FOR POSITIONING UNDER THE FOOT OF A MATTRESS, TWO C SHAPED ARMS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND HORIZONTAL AXES SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE PLANE OF SAID BASE, AND PROTRUDING FROM A COMMON EDGE THEREOF, OTHER PORTIONS OF SAID C ARMS EXTENDING UPWARD AND AROUND THE END OF SAID MATTRESS TERMINATING IN OVERHANGING ENDS GENERALLY SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID AXES, AND SHELF SECTIONS INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTED TO PIVOT AND BEING FREELY BALANCED ON SAID OVERHANGING ENDS IN A MANNER AVOIDING 